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About Texas Eastside Kings

Clarence Pierce

The master of the soul serenade, he's got the look and delivery of Jimmy Reed and the same finesse and knowledge in the blues as Kenny Burrell does in jazz. He was born February 10th, 1943 in New Braunfels, Texas and moved to Austin in 1969. The influence of B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, and Freddie King is woven through Clarence's playing. He spent a lot of time with cousins Ponte "Guitar" Gonzales and Spot Burnette who were big players in the San Antonio area.

George Underwood

The first gig George remembered was sitting in with T.D. Bell at the Barton Tavern in Austin in 1957. In 1961, he recorded a 45 called "No Way Out" with Joyce Harris for Domino Records; it charted on Billboard. George played bass at that time with the Daylighters, and in 1961 the Daylighters released their own 45 for Domino Records featuring Clarence Smith (AKA Sonny Rhodes). Touring bands like Pig Meat Markum show, Freddy King, and ZZ Hill would call on George to back them up when touring through Austin.

Ephraim Owens

This young man has gained respect from the Austin blues scene in just a short time. With his signature bop'n solos and modified trumpet, Ephraim can be found jumping on the stage with any number of bands from D.J. Logic at the Mercury Lounge to the Texas Eastside Kings at the T.C. Lounge. Ephraim would like to thank Duck and Martin Banks.

Donald "Duck" Jennings

You better call Duck. From the time he joined his first band, the Daylighters, in 1962 with his buddy Whimp, Duck has always been in house bands. In the late 60's and 70's, Duck was the House band king that supported touring bands that would play at Charlie's Playhouse, Ernie's Chicken Shack, and Sam's Showcase. Today, you can hear why people are still are calling Duck, he is now playing with Matthew Robinson and also Gary Clark.

Willie Sampson

The Smith Chapel in Austin, TX is where Willie learned to sing. He taught himself how to play drums. The first time Willie played blues was at the age of 15, when he sat in with Willie Bell at the I.L. Club on East 11th Street in Austin. Blues was a natural for Willie, and he began playing and singing with Texas legends like Ponte "Guitar" Gonzales, Spot Barnett, Lennar Nappier & the Spinners, and T.D. Bell. This is Willie's first recording ever put to disc.

James Kuykendall

He would tie two guitar straps together and wear his bass hanging down to his knees. James played the jump blues all night long with Lee & the Capris, one of the early Soul / Blues bands from Austin that kept the eastside hop'n for 9 years in the 60's. Playing clubs like the Palomino Club, the New Orleans Club and the Club in Taylor next to Tony Vaughan's place were regular gigs. In the 70's he started playing with the Jets and nowadays you can hear him with The Blues Express. This is his first recording.